Brazil will need time to get the full benefit from the stadiums they built for the 2014 World Cup, FIFA`s general secretary Jerome Valcke said on Tuesday, responding to criticism that the venues had become white elephants.

A 90-day provisional ban by FIFA on World Cup-winning player and coach Franz Beckenbauer has been lifted after only 15 days with world soccer`s governing body saying on Friday the German was now welcome at the tournament.

South African Twenty20 captain Faf du Plessis is reportedly planning to play key moments well and make the right decisions at crucial times to have success in the World Twenty20 semi-final against India on Friday

With quality batsmen in their squad, Australia looked a force to reckon with ahead of the ICC World Twenty20. They suffered a major blow when Mitchell Johnson was ruled out of the tournament due to a toe infection.

Ukraine will still host the 2015 European basketball championships, organisers said Wednesday, despite earlier indications that the tournament would be switched due to the tense political situation in the country.

Former Pakistan hockey skipper Tahir Zaman on Thursday rued the absence of his country`s players from the Hockey India League, starting in two days` time, and felt their inclusion would have added lustre to the tournament.

As many as 23 teams have so far confirmed their participation in the IWF Grand Prix & 2nd Baku International Cup that is expected to swing off here Dec 5-8, National Weightlifting Federation of Azerbaijan announced Wednesday.